Map showing campground location near Cochiti Lake, New Mexico

Camper submitted image from Tetilla Peak

Tetilla Peak

Twelve miles of rough access road separate Tetilla Peak from the main highway, winding through high desert terrain to reach this Army Corps of Engineers campground on Cochiti Lake's less-traveled eastern shore. The remote location keeps visitor numbers low, even during peak season weekends when other lake campgrounds fill up.

Sites spread across forested and open areas, with some offering direct lake views and water access. Electric and water hookups accommodate RVs up to 50 feet, though the challenging access road deters many larger rigs. Austin C. found "clean bathrooms and showers and all of the sites were nice," despite the campground's dated infrastructure from the 1950s. A feeder stream flows through the area when water levels allow.

The campground operates year-round with basic amenities including restrooms, drinking water, and a dump station. Cell service remains spotty, particularly for AT&T users. Fishing and swimming draw visitors to the lake, while nearby Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument offers hiking opportunities. For additional camping choices, explore places to camp near Cochiti Lake on the more developed western shore.

Reservations help secure sites during busy periods, and the rough road conditions make checking current access advisable before arrival.

Description

Overview

Tetilla Peak Recreation Area is located in Sandoval County, New Mexico, within the boundaries of the Pueblo de Cochiti Indian Reservation. The lake offers two public recreation areas: Cochiti on the west side of the lake and Tetilla Peak on the east side. Both sides offer spectacular scenic views of the water and surrounding mountains. The Cochiti Dam is one of the ten largest earth-fill dams in the United States, and also one of the largest in the world. The lake derives its name from the Indian Pueblo on the Cochiti Reservation.

Recreation

Our quiet no-wake lake is an ideal for all paddle and wind craft. The lake is also a popular fishing spot for species such as bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, sunfish, and pike. Santa Cruz Day Use area is open daily and provides visitors with acces to the lake as well as several shade structures, bathrooms, and a fishing dock.

Facilities

The campground consists of two loops. Cholla Loop includes 36 individual campsites, each with an electric hookup, table and grill. All electric campsites have shelters, and water spigots are located throughout the campground. This loop also provides a dump station and large restroom and shower building . A partially paved road winds through Coyote Loop, which has 10 sites, each with a table and grill. There are no electric hookups, and water spigots are scattered throughout the loop. The restroom and shower building is centrally located for easy access. The Tetilla boat ramp area offers a parking area and courtesy dock.

Natural Features

Cochiti Lake sits at 5,343ft in elevation and is nestled in the foothills of the Jemez Mountains. Our high desert environment is dominated by juniper, pi__on trees, and mixed grasslands. There are many opportunities for wildlife viewing. Four osprey nesting platforms have been erected around the lake to provide nesting sites, as well as viewing opportunities. On the east side of the lake, deer, coyote, river otters, rabbits, beavers, and bear are often sighted.

Nearby Attractions

Cochiti Lake is 23 miles from Tent Rocks National Monument, which has fascinating geological formations.

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Location

Public Campground

Tetilla Peak is located in New Mexico

Directions

From Albuquerque, New Mexico, take I-25 north to exit 264. Travel west on State Road 16 to the Tetilla Peak Recreation Area/La Bajada Village turnoff and follow the paved road into the recreation area.

Address

82 DAM CREST RD
Pena blanca, NM 87041

Coordinates

35.6472222 N
106.3044444 W

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Connectivity

T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
VerizonLTE
Good Coverage
Verified by 18 users
Last on 4/3/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 4/3/26

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Connectivity

T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
VerizonLTE
Good Coverage
Verified by 18 users
Last on 4/3/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 4/3/26

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

Trash
Phone Service
Reservable
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Pets

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites
50 Amp Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Make reservation

Drive Time

41 min from Santa Fe, NM
58 min from Albuquerque, NM
3 hrs 14 min from Farmington, NM
4 hrs 23 min from Pueblo, CO

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out of 5

5 Reviews

Visitors often highlighted the remote, peaceful setting with excellent lake views and solitude. Many mentioned the outdated facilities and poor road access as significant drawbacks, though some appreciated the quiet atmosphere away from crowds.

Gail

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 16, 2023

CLOSED FOR 2023!!!

Those of us who frequent this campground appreciate it’s remote location. Fewer people use that side of the lake. Is it the bastard child of the area, absolutely. It’s funky and worn. The road there is long and treacherous. That’s why it gets very little use and that’s exactly why I love it. I’m sad I won’t be camping there this season. The Cochiti side is frequented by Behemoth sized RV’s and very few trees. While by appearance it’s is “nicer” it does not offer the same ambience as Tetilla. I’m glad they are making the improvements. It seems to me they could have been doing these updates in the offseason. Construction still goes on in winter here. No real excuse for waiting until high season but whatever.

Site9

Month of VisitJune

John S.

Scout

Reviewed Oct. 7, 2019

Nice park

The park is great with beautiful views. The problem is the 12 miles of access road riddled with large& deep pot holes. They don't care about maintaining it either. If you value your vehicle or rv avoid this park at the low rates, can you afford to bend an axle?

Austin C.

Legend

Reviewed May. 28, 2019

Old but peaceful

As other reviews note, this campground looks like it was built in the 50s and not touched since. That said, the area is really pretty and this campsite was totally empty even just a couple days before memorial day weekend. Had clean bathrooms and showers and all of the sites were nice. Some sites had great views of the lake.

It may not be as nice as the camp on the other side, but offered a bit more solitude.

(8) View All

Crystal C.

Legend

Reviewed Oct. 12, 2018

Needs Some Work

There are two campground I found in the area, this one and one almost directly across from it. I checked out each on my way to the tent rocks and ended up settling on the other.

WHY? This one is like the red headed stepchild that everyone knows is there but doesn't want to deal with it seems. I think what happened is the other was constructed after this one and because of that this one was neglected instead of maintained.

Was it all bad? No. But was it as nice as the other, NOPE!

I honestly think that if there was a little maintenance to this one I would have enjoyed it a bit more. I liked the views from this side a bit more and they seemed a bit more vegetative overall. But that was also the problem, it looked like no one had maintained the sites and they were a little wooly.

When I visited over a year ago some of the picnic tables were vandalized and looked broken. Several of the plug in posts had been bent and damaged and looked a bit dangerous. I have seen photos of other campers which have camped since my visit and it looks as though they have been working on this area to make improvements and I really hope they have because I would love to see it again in better form.

The water access in my opinion was better from this side and had more points of interest overall including the feeder stream which was flowing pretty well when I was there.

TIPS:

If you have ATT you will not have signal here so if possible bring a booster. The entire region is spotty for this service.
Check out the Tent Rocks, only a short distance away for some amazing hiking and views. An amazing way to see this portion of New Mexico.

Month of VisitApril

(4) View All

LeCena M.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 19, 2018

old

old campground. across the lake is Cochiti campground so much nicer and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Tetilla Peak Campground located at Cochiti Lake?

Tetilla Peak Campground is located on the eastern side of Cochiti Lake. It sits across the lake from the main Cochiti Campground. To reach Tetilla Peak, you'll need to travel down a 12-mile access road that's known to be rough with numerous potholes. The campground's remote location means it gets fewer visitors than other areas around the lake, offering a more secluded experience for those willing to make the journey.

What camping facilities are available at Tetilla Peak Recreation Area?

Tetilla Peak Recreation Area offers basic camping facilities that appear unchanged since the 1950s. The campground provides clean bathrooms and showers, and features multiple camping sites with varied layouts. Some campers find the facilities dated and minimally maintained compared to the more updated Cochiti Campground across the lake. Despite its rustic nature, the recreation area offers beautiful views and typically has good site availability even during peak seasons.

How can I find a map of Tetilla Peak Campground?

To find a map of Tetilla Peak Campground, check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website, which manages Cochiti Lake and its recreation areas. You can also contact the Cochiti Lake Project Office directly for the most current maps and campground information. Upon arrival, look for information boards at the campground entrance that often display site layouts. For planning purposes, consider visiting the official Cochiti Lake recreation page where downloadable maps may be available.

Is swimming allowed at Tetilla Peak Campground?

Yes, swimming is allowed at Tetilla Peak Campground. The campground provides access to Cochiti Lake where visitors can enjoy water activities. The eastern shore location offers good water access, though facilities are basic. For safety reasons, always check current water conditions and any posted restrictions before swimming, as regulations may change seasonally. The more remote nature of this side of the lake means swimming areas are typically less crowded than at the main Cochiti recreation areas.

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